Friday, November 9, 2012

While Federal Resources and Energy minister Martin Ferguson was launching a white paper on energy, the press conference was interrupted by that scallywag Victorian Coal CEO Twiggy Palmcock who thanked the Minister for his support of the fossil fuel industry.

"I'd just like to say thank you Mr Ferguson, for being an excellent puppet for the fossil fuel industry. And I'd also like to say thank you on behalf of Twiggy Palmcock of Excretum Mining - my good self, and my friends Gina and other allies." announced Twiggy.

"We are very happy to have you representing our interests. Thank you Mr Ferguson for helping regional communities drink water and coal from the same tap. It's a marvellous outcome for all our regional communities in this situation. That they can now drink gas from the taps as well. Thank you very much Mr Ferguson" said Twiggy Palmcock, CEO of Excretum Mining.

Accompanied by Michael Higgins-Beaumont, Young Lib and Founder of Australia's Young Coal Champions, the pair strode onto the stage during the Minister's speech at the Hilton Hotel in Melbourne thanking him for his unwavering support and commitment to the fossil fuel industry. Minister Ferguson was making a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).

Well, at least you can say Twiggy Palmcock has been bipartisan in thanking the strong supporters of the coal and fossil fuel industry on both sides of politics. This week we saw Energy Minister Martin Ferguson trying to distance himself from the effusive praise of true Aussie scallywag Twiggy Palmcock and last week we witnessed Tony Abbott rebuffing the praise of Mr Palmcock. What is going on! We all know the fossil fuel industry is in bed with politicians on all sides of parliament. Well, maybe not the Greens...

But the ALP legislation on the Minerals Resource Rentals Tax, much weakened after extensive consultation with the fossil fuel industry, and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman recent jacking up mining royalties, it is true, have added a little distance between ordinary billionaire miners and politicians.

According to the Quit Coal blog which has been following the scallywag antics of Twiggy Palmcock reports that the Energy paper talks up CSG as a transition fuel:

The Energy White paper suggests that the government wants to ensure a “healthy” future for fossil fuels in Australia. The paper promotes gas, including CSG, as a “transition” fuel and envisages a slow demise for coal, defying the urgent need to address climate change. Good news for the fossil fuel industry, bad news for anyone who wants to see real action on climate on climate change.

The Greens also criticised Martin Ferguson and his support of fossil fuels, especially CSG as a transitional fuel, in a media release:

"Martin Ferguson has been dragged out of his comfort zone here, but his dirty fingerprints are all over the White Paper," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"Primarily, the White Paper confirms that renewable energy can power all of Australia within decades, a reality being modelled by AEMO thanks to the Greens' carbon price negotiations - but has been shunted aside here with a dash for gas and a vision of fossil-fuels still polluting our atmosphere out to 2050 and beyond.

"The failure of the paper to recognise that China in particular is moving away from coal is a major failing. Just last week Professor Ross Garnaut said the 'awful reality' is there has been wasteful over-investment in thermal coal mining and export capacity. As China moves towards renewable energy, Australia's investment in coal export infrastructure will lead to stranded 'white elephant' assets - a multi-billion dollar mistake.

"In the dash for gas, the paper calls for environmental regulations to be 'streamlined' - risking grave and irreversible damage to our fertile land and fresh water supplies."

"Gas, which is projected to double in price over the next decade, is a threat to affordable electricity in Australia."

"The Government cannot say it is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and yet welcome a fossil fuel export industry. Pollution does not stop at borders and global warming is a global problem. If we are to stop climate change and secure a healthy future for our children we need move away from fossil fuels and get serious about becoming a clean energy power house." concluding Greens leader Christine Milne.

Honestly, Greens. Can't you see that Martin is just trying to help his fossil fuel friends make a quick buck before everything goes pear-shaped?

"To be able to plan and prepare for the future, you need first to be able to imagine it. And despite the policies and rhetoric around the government’s Clean Energy Future package, it struggles to imagine what a clean energy future might look like. Unless it’s got a lot of gas." said Giles Parkinson.

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About Me

Time to leap out of the slowly boiling pot of earth's warming climate
into action on climate mitigation and adaption.
I don't want my children to ask why I didn't act after reading the
scientific reports of climate risks. I write on the
effects of human induced climate change, sea level rise, ocean
acidification, biodiversity loss, environmental and social impacts of
global warming, and climate protests from a Melbourne Citizen
Journalist.

A member of environmental NGOs and community groups for 30 years in Australia, currently living in Melbourne. I have been a Citizen journalist for the Indymedia network in Australia and worldwide from 2000, as an editor and contributor with Australia Indymedia and the global features collective. Since 2013 I have contributed many stories to Margot Kingston's citizen journalism website: nofibs.com.au. (See my article archive) I also post photoessays to Flickr and videos to Youtube and edit wikipedia as user Tirin. My website is takver.com where I can be contacted through the feedback form, the most reliable way to contact me. I can also be contacted through facebook and on twitter as @takvera.